Translator: CinderTL
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted, sending an invisible shockwave rippling outward like concentric circles.
In an instant, the entire room trembled faintly.
Jiang Ye stood, his leg planted firmly on the ground.
"What incredible force!" he murmured, his eyes wide with astonishment as he surveyed the subtly vibrating walls around him.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the stellar energy that had surged through his leg along the secret technique's meridian pathways seemed to have undergone a qualitative transformation.
The most immediate sensation was an overwhelming heat, as if a 200-degree flame had instantly leaped to a scorching 1,000 degrees.
This sudden surge of energy had unleashed an earth-shattering impact, causing the entire room to tremble as if struck by an earthquake.
"Is this the power of the Cosmic Secret Art?" Jiang Ye couldn't help but gasp. "Truly formidable!"
There was no doubt that such devastating power stemmed from the Cosmic Secret Art's perfect harmonization with stellar energy.
And this was just ordinary stellar energy.
If activated with Nine Luminaries Stellar Energy, its power would likely double again!
Jiang Ye glanced at the system panel.
"1%" He nodded slightly, unsurprised.
After all, this was an earth-rank cultivation technique, far more challenging than yellow-tier ones. Jiang Ye hadn't expected to make significant progress in such a short time.
The fact that it could already unleash such power was more than enough.
"However, I didn't enter that profound state of enlightenment earlier," Jiang Ye mused. "If I could enter that state, perhaps its power could double again."
That mystical state was elusive, appearing only three times in the past few days.
This showed that even an Upper D-Tier Profound Physique couldn't maintain that state consistently.
"I suspect that with a C-tier or B-tier Profound Physique, entering that state would become easier," Jiang Ye speculated.
But that wasn't his immediate concern.
His next physique transformation would likely require him to reach a sufficient level of strength and ascend to the fourth level of the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder.
"Continue cultivating."
Jiang Ye stilled his mind and resumed practicing the Nine Luminaries Star-Treading technique.
In an instant, his mind emptied completely, plunging him into a deep meditative state.
Even without entering the profound state of enlightenment, his cultivation speed now far surpassed his previous pace.
This was the formidable power of the Upper D-Tier Profound Physique combined with the Heart of Enlightenment.
That night, Jiang Ye didn't enter the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder. Instead, he lay down on his bed and fell into a deep slumber.
He hadn't slept properly for months. The last time he had slept was... well, the last time.
Although waking up refreshed after entering the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder, prolonged periods without rest would eventually drain his mental reserves.
Every few months, Jiang Ye needed to catch up on sleep.
What he didn't expect was that this sleep would once again bring him back to that recurring dream.
He opened his eyes and found himself in the familiar dreamscape.
He was a one-year-old infant, cradled in the arms of a young man.
"The dream... it's clearer now?"
Jiang Ye looked around. Due to the dream's nature, he couldn't speak or move, but he could observe his surroundings.
As before, the young man entered the golden palace.
After handing him over to Sister Miao for care, he embarked on his certification journey.
However, after the young man left, Sister Miao didn't diligently look after Jiang Ye. Instead, she casually placed him on a chair and went about her own business.
This time, the dream wasn't pitch black.
Jiang Ye faintly glimpsed Sister Miao's appearance.
She wore a pale cyan brocade robe, her waist cinched to a G-cup size, exuding a mature and alluring aura.
Yet her face remained indistinct.
Once Sister Miao departed, the dreamscape plunged back into darkness.
Fragmented and disjointed.
Jiang Ye initially assumed this dream would end like the others.
But suddenly—
Whoosh! The dreamscape shifted.
Jiang Ye found himself sprawled on the ground.
Tap, tap, tap...
In the dim dreamscape, a blurry figure wearing high heels approached.
As she drew closer, Jiang Ye gradually made out her features.
She was a woman around twenty-five years old, her face as cold and beautiful as frost, her presence commanding.
A faint golden light flickered in her dual pupils, their icy glint making her appear even more ruthless and aloof.
"Who is she?" Jiang Ye wondered, a strange sense of familiarity stirring within him as he gazed at the woman.
Just then, the golden-eyed woman halted.
Her piercing gaze swept across the young Jiang Ye.
"Throw him out," she commanded coldly.
A steward immediately bowed and approached, hesitating. "Miss Li..."
The woman shot him a sharp glance, silencing him instantly.
The steward then picked Jiang Ye up from the ground and carried him toward the palace entrance.
"The Li Clan has enjoyed generations of glory," the golden-eyed woman said, watching Jiang Ye being tossed out, her expression utterly indifferent. "A low-grade aptitude bastard is better off gone."
Outside the palace, Jiang Ye was hurled violently to the ground, the impact sending a searing pain through his body.
Endless darkness swallowed him whole.
At that moment, within the golden palace, an enraged voice roared, "Li Qingyue, have you lost your mind?!"
A blood-soaked figure burst out of the palace—the same young man from before.
He had barely taken a few steps before collapsing to the ground, unable to rise. "My child..." he wailed in anguish.
Outside the palace, faint roars echoed through the darkness. Several massive shadows flickered across the ground, lunging toward Jiang Ye.
Huff!
Jiang Ye jolted upright in bed, his pupils wide with shock. Only when the suffocating sensation receded like a receding tide did he regain his composure.
"Damn it, that dream again," he muttered, shaking his head.
Every time he lay down, the same recurring nightmare plagued him. Can't a person even get some sleep?
"Li Qingyue..." Jiang Ye recalled the dream, realizing he had gleaned new information.
The cold, golden-eyed woman possessed an extraordinary appearance, with features that bore a striking resemblance to his own.
My birth mother? Jiang Ye shook his head.
The golden-eyed woman named Li Qingyue might share a blood connection with him, but she couldn't be his mother. No mother would ever call her own child a "bastard."
My father must have failed the certification, Jiang Ye mused. But how could he have been so severely injured?
He suspected that his biological father might be crippled or on the verge of death.
Otherwise, how would Li Qingyue dare to openly turn against him?
"The Cosmic Divine Path's strength certification does carry the risk of injury," Jiang Ye acknowledged.
"But such severe injuries? This must be more than just a first breakthrough—perhaps a higher realm." Jiang Ye shook his head.
More intriguing to him was the 'Li Clan' mentioned by Li Qingyue.
"Sounds like some major aristocratic family," he mused.
Recalling the dream, Jiang Ye pondered, "Could it be that my father was expelled by the Li Clan, which is why he wants to fight his way back?"
"Or perhaps my mother is from the Li Clan, and my father was ostracized there?"
As the dream continued to unfold, Jiang Ye grew increasingly curious.
Of course, his primary goal remained to unravel the dream and finally get a good night's sleep.
Unfortunately, the information he possessed was still too limited.
Many things could only be speculated upon based on fragments of evidence.
The truth remained elusive.
"Never mind."
"Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder!" Jiang Ye muttered inwardly.
The dream had stirred him so deeply that he no longer felt like sleeping.
Jiang Ye decided to enter the first level of the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder and engage in a night battle.
While Jiang Ye was immersed in his night battle,
Ancheng, outskirts.
Dark clouds like ink filled the sky, and a lightning bolt, resembling a serpentine flash, tore through the darkness.
Rip! Suddenly, an inconspicuous rift appeared, and a wave of malevolent, terrifying energy surged from it.
A massive shadow flickered briefly within the rift, but it vanished in an instant.
Boom! Torrential rain poured down, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
It was an utterly ordinary summer thunderstorm, unnoticed by anyone.
For the next two days, Jiang Ye devoted himself entirely to cultivation, without rest.
Time flowed like water, slipping away in the blink of an eye.
Before he knew it, the final night before the College Entrance Examination had arrived.
Jiang Ye continued his relentless cultivation, making a final push.
Meanwhile,
At Penglai University in East Sea Province, one of the Eastern Ten Provinces, a special meeting was underway.
Inside a platinum-gold floating pavilion,
A group of men and women in white robes sat around a conference table.
"That's roughly our recruitment plan for Penglai University this year," Elder Bai, the silver-haired elder presiding over the meeting, said slowly. "Does anyone have any additions?"
The attendees murmured among themselves, but no one spoke up immediately.
Just then, a red-haired elder raised his hand. "I have a suggestion."
"Old Zhu?" Elder Bai nodded. "Please proceed."
The red-haired elder was Zhu Honglie, who had previously recommended Jiang Ye.
Zhu Honglie's face flushed with a cheerful smile. "Didn't we sign preliminary contracts with a batch of young talents earlier?"
"Let's review their scores from the most recent exams."
"If any of them show exceptional performance, we can appropriately upgrade their contract levels."
"This would also reduce our workload later on," Zhu Honglie suggested.
As soon as he finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement.
More than three months had passed since the preliminary contracts were signed.
They were all curious about the progress of the hundred-odd young talents they had signed.
If their scores exceeded expectations, they would need to prepare higher-grade contracts in advance.
Immediately after the College Entrance Examination concluded, invitations were sent out to prevent the ten great schools from poaching their recruits.
After all, early signing wasn't a direct admission; it merely linked the students to bonus points.
Elder Bai pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well."
He immediately instructed the data regulator to retrieve the recent records of the hundred-plus students who had signed early.
The process was remarkably efficient.
Within moments, a list of detailed profiles appeared on the large screen at the front of the conference hall.
The list included each student's comprehensive information, including their most recent exam scores.
Penglai University had been closely monitoring these early-signed students, so their exam scores had been meticulously recorded.
Liu Feng (Third-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner), May Monthly Exam Score: 925
Liu Xinxin (Third-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner), May Monthly Exam Score: 919
...
Elder Bai nodded slightly.
Most of the scores were within the expected range.
"Hmm?"
Just then, Elder Bai noticed an unexpected name on the list.
Yun Qing'er (Third-Tier Reserve Star Practitioner), May Monthly Exam Score: 930
"930 points?" Elder Bai murmured, slightly surprised. He quickly reviewed Yun Qing'er's previous records.
"Three months ago, she only scored 900 points."
"A 30-point improvement in just three months?"
Seeing this, Elder Bai immediately declared, "This student, Yun Qing'er, will be upgraded from an A-tier contract to an Upper A-tier contract."
"Yes, sir," the teachers responded in unison.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, someone let out a soft exclamation.
"Look at this student, Jiang Ye."
"His May monthly exam score is only 839."
"That's quite a bit below our admission threshold."
Hearing this, the teachers turned their attention to Jiang Ye's profile.
Jiang Ye (Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position), May Monthly Exam Score: 839
"Second-Tier Reserve Star Professional Position? He's the student Old Zhu recommended."
"Indeed, that's quite low."
"Even with a first breakthrough, he'd barely reach 850 points. Still several dozen points short of a D-grade contract." The teachers murmured among themselves.
Many secretly glanced in the direction of the red-haired elder.
Zhu Honglie sat upright, gently shaking his head.
"You only see that his score doesn't meet the standard."
"But just three months ago, Jiang Ye scored only 690 points," Zhu Honglie said, shaking his head. "To improve by nearly 150 points in three months is truly remarkable."
Jiang Ye had been recommended to him by a friend at White Dragon University, and Zhu Honglie had always held high hopes for him.
"This Jiang Ye... he's from Ancheng?" A raspy voice suddenly cut through the conference room.
All eyes turned toward the speaker.
"Old Chen?" Zhu Honglie also looked at the man.
The speaker was an elderly man with snow-white hair and deeply sunken eyes, appearing well over a hundred years old. He was Chen Yuntian, a distinguished professor at Penglai University.
"Old Chen, you missed the last meeting, so it's understandable you wouldn't know," Zhu Honglie said with a chuckle. "Jiang Ye comes from a small town in West Mountain Province and possesses a Primitive innate talent. That's precisely what makes him so extraordinary."
"I see..." Chen Yuntian nodded slightly, as if deep in thought.
After a moment, Chen Yuntian spoke, "Elder Bai, whether Jiang Ye's score meets the standard or not, I want him."
"When the time comes, just have him formally acknowledge me as his master."
Before Elder Bai could react, Zhu Honglie, who was sitting nearby, frowned and protested, "Old Chen, that's not fair. I recommended Jiang Ye, so if anyone's going to take him, it should be me."
Chen Yuntian chuckled hoarsely. "Old Zhu, you're terrible at teaching. Let me handle this."
"Bullshit!" Zhu Honglie scoffed. "You just got lucky with a few talented students. Otherwise, how could you possibly outdo me?"
"..."
Around the conference table, everyone was stunned.
Are we hearing this right?
Zhu Honglie and Chen Yuntian, two veteran powerhouses from Penglai University, were actually fighting over a student whose score hadn't even met the minimum requirement?
Could there be hidden information about Jiang Ye that we've overlooked?
The others began to speculate.
At the same time, Elder Bai realized something.
He turned to Chen Yuntian, his curiosity piqued. "Old Chen, what do you see in Jiang Ye?"
Elder Bai knew Chen Yuntian's temperament well.
He either wouldn't take any disciples at all, or he would only accept the very best.
But Jiang Ye, based on his current performance, fell far short of that standard.
"Nothing special," Chen Yuntian chuckled. "Don't overthink it. I'm just tired of taking in top students. I wanted someone with less innate talent for a change. That's all."
Zhu Honglie shot him a skeptical glance.
That old fox never does anything without a reason, he thought. He must have spotted something special in Jiang Ye.
"Could it be..." Zhu Honglie's expression suddenly shifted.
Just then, Elder Bai, seated at the head of the table, raised his hand. "Enough arguing."
"We've already offered a contract. Even if Jiang Ye's College Entrance Examination scores fall short, Penglai University is willing to make an exception and admit him."
"If his scores meet the standard, we'll consider upgrading the contract," Elder Bai said calmly. "We can discuss this further then."
The others nodded in agreement. That seemed fair.
Everything would ultimately depend on Jiang Ye's College Entrance Examination results.
(End of the Chapter)